Vise or draft mechanism.



MT B. LLOYD; VISE OR DRAFT MECHANISM; APBLIGATION FILED APB..15, 191"2.

N IIIIIEEIEIQ rammed an. 12, 1915/ 5 smug-sum 1.

I M. B. LLOYD. 'VISL1 OR DRAFT MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 111 11.15, 1912.

1 124 7 1 I v Patented Jan. 12, 1915 5 SHEETS-SHEET a.

M.-B'. LLOYD. VISE OR- DRAFT MECHANISM APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 19 12.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4'.

M ofaZZflZZoya? npirrn'n STATES; PATENT orrron. I

MARSHALL BURNS IJLOYD, OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TOTHE ELYRIA IRON & STEEL COMPANY, OF ELYRIA, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION OFOI-IIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

VISE OR DRAFT MECHANISM.

Patented Jan. 12. 1915 Original application filed July 12, 1911, Serial No. 638,263. Divided and this application filed April '15,

- 1912.; Serial No. 690,935.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, MARSHALL BURNS LLOYD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Menominee, Menominee county, Michigan, have invented certain new and ,useful- Improvements in Vises or Draft lvlechanism, of which'the following is a i specification.

'My invention relates generally to ma- 1o ch nes for manufacturing metal tubing and the like, and has particular reference to an improved draft mechanism for use in manufacturmgfmetal tubing.

' This application is a division of my oopending" app.lication', Serial No. 638,203,

filed July 12,1911, for continuous tube mill. f

- wide a draft mechanism particularly adapted for' use in thecontinuous production of either non-welded-or welded metal tubing.

and the like My invention will, be more readily und'erstoodby reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specifi cation, and in-which:

Figure 1- is' a partial side elevation of a continuous tube-mill embodying my inven tion, being the same as that shown in my application Serial No. 638.203; Fig. 2 is a planvieiv. thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan ,view of ,my novel draft mechanism:

Fig. 4 is-a longitudinal, vertical section of 40 the continuous vise, on the line 44 of Fig.

"3; Fig: 4 is a transverse section of the continuous vise "on line 4 a of Fig. 3-; Fig. 5

a transversesection of the continuous vise on the" line 55 'of Figs. 3 and 4; and

Fig. 6 is a, transverse section, on a smaller ,scale, ofthecontinuous vise and the operating'me'chanism-thereof, on the line 6-6 of a It should also be understood that the draft mechanism which in the machine illus trated is used'for, forcibly and continuously draw ng strip metal through tube-forming,

table or bench, which supports the several operating parts of the machine. At one end of this bench is a tube-forming mechanism A. Next to the tube-forming mechanism is a welding mechanism B, and then follows a bur-removing mechanism C, a tube-reducmg or slzing mechamsm D. All these mech- .anisms require that the stock shall be drawn through them. This is done by the continuous vise E, about to be described, and which isalso mounted on the bench Z., v

The working parts and faces of the several mechanisms on the bench are preferably arranged in longitudinal working alinement, and any given piece or length of tubing material which occupies the machine, considered from end to end thereof, is therefore maintained instraight line, non-distorted condition, while it (such piece or length) is being acted'upon by the several mechanisms. The several mechanisms on the bench are such as to make it necessary that thestock be pulled through them. This is the function of my novel continuous or traveling vise. The single drawing. die D 'may'stand as a typical element, to represent a force or resistanceto be thus overcome by the drawmg force of the continuous vise.

' The vise mechanism is characterized-by two opposed endless gripping portions E FR, divlded into and composed of pairs of sections or aws E which move successively -into alinement withand automatically clamp the tubing and propel it forward.

'The compressive force with which the vise clamps the tubing is sufiicient to take firm hold upon it and draw it along without distorting it. The jaws E are arranged in pairsfan'd are mounted upon two parallel. endless chains FF running over correspondopposed gripping faces E which are conformed to the cross section of the tubing and exert their clamping pressure around sub stantially the whole circumference of the tubing: cross-sectionally uniform tension upon the tubing being thus insured. It is ingsprockets E and E respectively. The jaws comprise small blocks of metal having ing pressure is distributed. over quite a length of tubing and a safer and firmer'hold issecured upon the tubing andatthe'same time the pressure upon any given point is comparatively light, hence in this manner I am enabled to 'preserveithe shape of the tubing and still'efie'ct a powerful pull upon it.

The jaws are laterally slidable or movable upon the connecting rods E extending between corresponding points on the two chains-or belts, two of these rods being provided for .each pair of jaw sections to insure their stability and prevent them from tilting. Between each pair of jaws I interpo'se a small spring E to keep the jaws normally open so that, asthey rise around the for-'- ward end of the vise, they will properly pass into alinement with the tube, and as' they move downwardly away from the tube they will spread and release the tubing.

However, atthe latter or delivery end of the vise, I provide a spreader or opener E .(Fig. 3) which is positioned in the path of the jaws and which positively wedges or spreads them apart at that point. The .jaws are automatically closedupon the tube by mechanism which causes them to exert a clamping pressure upon the tubing. In this machinethe pressure mechanism comprises twobars or guide members E which are parallel with the upper side or working stretch of the vise. 'These form a groove or channel through which the jaws or sec tions travelin succession. The forward or receiving ends E of these pressure guides are flared or arranged as cams so that as the jaws rise and enter the forward end of the channel they are caused to gradually move toward each other and into clamping engagement with the tube, in which conditionthey are maintained until they reach the spreader at the opposite end of the channel. The opposite ends E of the guide members are also flaredv or cut away so as to allow the jaws to open as the spreader enters between them. The guide members are mounted upon the bed plateE of the machine. 'If the vise sections were to travel through the'channel in direct contact with the faces of the guide members, the friction would be so great as to make it difficult to drive the vise. For this reason I interpose a plurality or series of roller bearings E between the vise sections and the faces of the guides by which I reduce the friction losses to a minimum (Figs. 3, 5 and 6).

on the guides.

the jaws so as to deliver the rolls to the-vise at the forward end and receive them at the opposite end of the vise mechanism, The

" inactive portions of the races are completed by ledges E on the lower portions of the guides and by the' guards IE secured there to. The rollers have small peripheral .grooi'es (Fig; 5) which register with ribs shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The wires are threaded atthe ends. and are provided with nuts E which operate against stoplugs E and thereby enable the proper tensioning of the wires. It will be noted that I proportion the size 'of the rolls and the length of the jaws so that at a given instant, each jaw is .in contact with at least two, and preferably three, rollers, my pur-- pose being to make thepressure uniform throughout the length of each of the jaws and to positively prevent disalinement or tilting of the jaws while in engagement with the tubing. The guide members are slidable upon the bed plateE of the machine and may be adjusted bym'eans of the screws E so that the'clamping pressure of the vise may be regulated to any degree found to be suitable for the purpose. These screws are mounted upon upstanding lugs E and they. set against U-shaped members E which brid e the rollerraces'and have their ends set in sockets provided therefor Across the top of the vise I arrange anumber of parallel shafts journaled in the upstanding lugs E and carrying'rollers E which ride upon the upper faces. of the vise sections, the purpose of these devices being to hold the vise sections flat upon the plate E along which they travel, andto prevent-the jaws from rising or getting out of alinement in the working stretch of the vise. -The forward sprockets E of the vise are mounted on a shaft E journaled in bearings E fixed on the bench. The rear sprockets E of the vise are mounted on the rear shaft E journaled in similar bearings E fixed on the bench. The vise is driven through the medium of its rear shaft B. Any suitable'power gearing such as indicated in the drawing may be employed for driving the rear or power shaft E of the vise. The chainbelt E represents the source of the power end to the end of the stock. This welding may be done with a hand torch, using oxygen and acetylene. To insure the gripping;

action of the jaws of the pulling mechanism upon the threading tube, 1 insert a temporary filler between the same. an'd'the jaws, the filler being of suflicient length to act with the tube until the stock sufficiently enters the pulling mechanism. This filler should be a strip of' soft metal of such thickness as to compensate for the difference in the sizes of the tube and the die. It may be inserted most conveniently by temporarily backing oif the setserews E and opening the jaws in the working stretch of the vise. After it is put in place the set screws should be again tightened to restore the jaws to proper working position. .laviiig prepared the parts in this way, I

then start the vise and thereby draw the stock into the vise. hen the end of the stock emerges from the pulling mechanism E the threading tube should be cut oil. lVhile the machine herein illustrated iseonstriicted to make tubing, I wish it to be understood that my invention is adapted to the production of similar or diflerent metal articles. Indeed, variousmodifications of my invention and various combinations and uses of the mechanism herein described, all within the scope of my claims, will readily suggest themselves to one'who is skilled in 2. A continuous vise comprising an endless movable mechanism divided into and formed by a plurality of serially arranged *ise-like members attached to a conveyer and connected in end-to-end abutment, and means coacting with one stretch thereof and causing the vise-like members to close together during the passage thereof and to spread apart during the remainder of their movement. I

A continuous automatic vise comprising an endless movable mechanism divided into and formed by a plurality of serially arranged vise-like members mounted on a conveyor and connected in end-to-end abutment and means eo-acting with one stretch thereof and causing the same to" close together during passage thereof and to spread apart atthe end of said stretch;

4;. A machine of. the class described comprising an endless flexible vise composed of j and divided into gripping sections linked together and traveling in a given path, and meansseparate from the traveling mecha- Y nism for automatically closing and opening said gripping sections at given times.

5. A machineof the class described 0011b means separate from the traveling parts for automatically closing and opening said gripping sections at given times.

'6. machine of the'classdescribed comprising an endless vise composed of and divided. into a group of serially connected gripping-sections traveling in a, cycle and successively acting to close and grasp an ob ject. at a given point in their travel, in combinatioi'iwith automatic mechanism adapted to open said sections at the proper time.

7,. A machine of the class described com prising an endless vise composedof and dividedinto a group of serially connected gripping sections operating in e'nd-to-end abutment in the working stretch and traveling in a cycle and adap'ted to close and grasp an object at a given point in their travel, in combination with automatic mechanism adapted to close said sections at the proper time, and cause themto exert pressure upon said object during a portion of their travel.

8. .A continuous vise comprising an endless sectional gripping mechanism traveling in one direction and composed of a series of pairs of'parallel opposed vise-like jaws, in

combination with mechanism for causing said jaws to close in parallel manner, a pair at a t me and exert longitudinal and compressive force upon an ob ect clamped th erei n.

The improvements herein described comprising a continuous vise composed of a plurality of pairs of vise jaws linked. in

serial order upon a single conveyor, operating in end-to-end abutment in the working stretch. and traveling in a cycle.

10. The' improvements herein described comprising an endless vise composed of and divided into a plurality of alined gripping jaws operating in substantially end-to-end abutment inthe working stretch and constantly traveling in a given path, in combination with automatic pressure elements adapted to close said jaws during a straight line portion of theirtravel and anti-friction devices interposed between said jawsand said elements.

11. The improvements herein described comprising an endless movable meclianisi'n divided into a plurality of alined normally open vise-jaws connected together and constantly traveling in a given path, said jaws being adapted to close at one point in their path and to open at another point in their path and being formed and adapted to operatein end-t'o-end abutment when closed, and

means automatically controllingtlie operation' of said jaws I f '12. An automatic vise comprising endless belts and means for moving them, a plu rality of vise-jaws on said'members arranged thereon in close pairs, mechanism for successively closing said jaws in one stretch of their travel, and-aspreader for successively-opening said jaws atone end of said stretch. i

13. A continuous automatic vise comprising apair of endless chains moving in unison, in combination with a continuous series of pairs of vise jaws. mounted upon and traveling-with; s'aidchains, jaw closing mechanism acting on said-jaws for a portion of theirtravel to maintain them closed under pressure, and a devicefor successively Opening said jaws to relieve said pressure. 1ft. In'an automatic endless vise a con .veyer,"an endless-seriesof clamping jaws mounted thereon and automatic closing and opening mechanism'for said jaws.

l5...-An automatic single direction continuous. vise composed of parallel elongated endless series of longitudinally abutted vise jaws, in combinationwith meansctor driving the same and means enacting with one stretch thereof-to cause the jaws only to close together upon entering "and .while I v passing through said stretch and permitting them to openat ,the end of'said-stretch.

:16. automatic single direction continuous vise composed olfparallel elongated endless series of longitudinally abutted vise jaws, in combinationwith' a driving mechanism for same, stationary-means coacting with one stretch thereof to cause the jaws to close together .upon entering and while passing through said. stretch and permitting them to open at 't'he'end of said stretch, and

antifriction devices interposed between said jaws and-said ineans. I

17, An automaticsingledirection continuous vise composed ofa. conveyer and parallel elongated -'endless -s er.ies of longitudinally abutted vise j aws thereon in combination with mechanism for driving the same, pressure guides coa'cting with respectire series o'f'jawsin'on'e stretch thereof to jaws.

cause the jaws to vclose together upon-entering and while passing through said stretch and permitting-them to open at'the end of.

said stretch andantifriction devices operatively interposed between .said guides and 18. An automatic "single direction continuous visecomposed of parallel elongated endless series of longitudinally ahutt-ed' .vise jaws, in combination'with mechanism for driving the same, pressure guides. coacting with one stretch thereof' to cause the jaws to close together uponlentering and while passin'g through said stretch and. permitting them to open at the end of said sti: etch,". and

an endless series of antifriction rolls interposed between each gu de and the aws adacent thereto.

19. An automatic single direction con'- 'tinuous vise composed of parallel elongated endless series of vise aws; in combination with means'for driving the same, means coacting with one stretch thereof to cause the jaws to close together in parallel relation upon entering and while passing through saidstretch and permitting them to open at the end of said stretch, and antifriction devices interposed between said jaws and said means. 1

2-0. An automatic single direction continuous vise composed of parallel elongated endless series 01"" vise jaws, in combination with means for driving the same, bars coacting with one stretch thereof to cause the v jaws only to close together upon entering and while passing through said stretch and permitting them to open at the end of said stretch, andan endless series of antifriction rolls interposed between each bar and the adjacent jaws.

21. An automatic single direction combination vise comprising an endless elongated conveyer and means for driving the same, in combination with pairsof vlse jaws mounted upon said conveyer and limited to parallel transverse movement thereon and pressure bars .coacting wlththe aws on one stretch of said conveyer to close them upon the article to be drawn.

22. An automatic continuous vise com prising an endless elongated conveyor and means for driving the same, in combination with a series of pairs of jaws mounted upon ofthe conveyer, said jaws being successively closed "by said bars and means holding in straight line condition all jaws which are closed at any time.

2-1:. An automatlc continuous vise comprising in combination two opposed endless elongated series of vise jaws, the jaws of each series linked togetherserially, guide and pressure harsfor closing opposed jaws together in a straight stretch of the series.

and an endless series of rollers interposed between each bar and the ad acent'jaws and separate therefrom.-

IOU

I :25. A .continuoustube mill omprising a resistance element in combinat'on with an automatic single direction vise \having its working stretch'in operative alinement with said element, the Working parts-of said vise being opposed series of jaws having their inner faces conformed to the shape of the tube to be drawn, and the jaws of each series being formed to abut one with the other end to end throughout the working stretch of the vise.

26. A continuous tube mill comprising a resistance element, in combination with an vise jaws mounted upon saidconveyer and limited to transverse movement'thereon and guide or pressure members coacting with' said jaws in a straight stretch: of said con-j veyer and causing said jaws only to close together in said straight stretch; 5:

28. A continu'ousvise or'draft mechanism" comprising an iendless elongated conveyer and means for cyclically ropelling the same,

in combination with a p urality of pairs of vise jaws mounted upon said conveyer and limited to transverse movementthereon and guide or pressure members coacting with said jaws in a straight stretch. of said conveyer and causing said jaws to close together in said straight stretch, and a series of antifriction devices interposed between each said 7 member and the jaws adjacent thereto,

29. A continuous draw bench comprising a frame,- in combination with a resistance element thereon through which the stockj is to be drawn and a continuous one direcstretch.

tioni traveling'vise also on said frame for drawing the stock through sajidelemen't, said vise comprising an endless series of longitudinally abutted pairs of-visejawshaving thei inner faces conformed to the article to b drawn, and'means for automatically closing and'opening said-jaws as the same move-into and-out of operative, alinement with said element, substantially asdescribed.

. 30. An1automatic.endless vise comprising a plurality'of alined vclamping jaws linked together in opposed series, in combination with automatic closing and opening mechanism operable to move only said jaws to and from ione another.

31, In 'a'continuous draw bench, a conveyer mechanism vfor movement continuously n a g ven cyc1e,'1n comblnation with a plurality. of pairs of contiguous clamping jaws, means for automatically-moving thecontlg-uous aws successively together in lparallel relation to form a'strai'ght wor 32. In a continuous draw bench, a conveye-r mechanism for-movement continuously in a-givemcycleplurality of pairs 0% I jaws, means for automatically moving the contiguous jaws successivfly together in par? in c gnbination with a contiguous clamplng allelrelation .to form a straight working stretch and means for successively spread- 'ing the jaws apart-at a gig en poin 33. Anautomatic continuous vise comprising two parallel chains, rods connecting the chains, and vis'ebl'ocks movably mounted thereon, mechanism for inoving the. jaws toward each other to clamp the article to be drawn and other'mecha'nism operating posilease the article.

'tively to move only the jaws apartito re- In testimony whereof, Ihave hereunto set my hand, this-5th day of April, 19 12, in the I i presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARSHALL BURNS LLOYD.. Witnesses: l '1 CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY,

C. O.- "Poia'rnnrnsm. 

